Created 18-May-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
AEC introduced their own synchromesh gearbox in 1952 and it became available in the Regent III chassis as the 9613S variant. Featuring synchromesh on all four gears, it became the standard type of gearbox for future Rhondda Regents, although Regent Vs with the AV470 engine used a different, lighter, version.
In 1954 Rhondda took delivery of six buses with this chassis. 282-287 (NTG 135-140) introduced the 'Orion' body design to the Rhondda fleet and these were also the first double-deckers in the fleet to have route number blinds.
The batch had a fairly uneventful and relatively-short life with Rhondda, being withdrawn in 1965 after only eleven years' service. With the exception of 286 which was scrapped without further use, the batch was sold via North's at Sherburn-in-Elmet to Smith's of Reading who fitted them with platform doors and gained several years' further service out of them.
© David Beilby
